US President Donald Trump said on Thursday (April 2) he will soon sign an order to pay Department of Homeland Security
(DHS) employees who have gone without pay during the record-long partial government shutdown, now stretching to 48 days.
The move comes as lawmakers continue to struggle to reach a broader funding agreement, leaving thousands of federal workers in limbo.
‘Help is on the way’: Trump assures
Announcing the decision in a social media post, Trump acknowledged the hardship faced by affected employees and their families.
“Their families have suffered far too long,” he said.
“Nevertheless, help is on the way for our Brave and Patriotic Public Servants who have continued to work hard, and do their part to protect and defend our Country,” Trump added.
The order is expected to cover non-law enforcement DHS employees, including staff at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the US Coast Guard, and federal cybersecurity units.
Despite Trump’s unilateral step, the broader funding lapse for DHS is expected to extend into next week as Congress remains deadlocked.
Both the House and Senate held only brief pro forma sessions on Thursday without taking action on competing funding proposals.
Two-step funding plan
Republican leaders, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker , have aligned with Trump on a to end the impasse.
The proposal would fund most of DHS immediately, while delaying funding decisions for immigration enforcement agencies such as ICE and Border Patrol.
“I don’t know the particulars around what the House will do with it,” Thune said. “My assumption is, at some point, hopefully, they’ll move it.”
Funding ICE and Border Patrol remains key sticking point
The exclusion of and funding has emerged as a major hurdle.
Democrats have largely backed the Senate proposal, while Republicans remain divided. Senate Democratic leader blamed House Republicans for prolonging the shutdown.
“The deep division and dysfunction among House Republicans is needlessly extending the and hurting federal workers who are missing another paycheck,” Schumer said.
Impact on workers and services
While most DHS employees have continued working, thousands have gone without pay. The situation has strained operations, particularly at airport security checkpoints, where .
Trump previously signed a similar order to restore pay for , which helped ease disruptions.
At , about 10,000 workers continue to be paid through the Disaster Relief Fund, while at least 4,000 employees remain furloughed or working without pay.
